Aston Martin Vantage v Mercedes-AMG GT v McLaren Artura v Maserati MC20 – car pictures of the week

These days, 600bhp+ power figures and 200mph top speeds aren’t just reserved for all-out supercars – big performance is now more accessible than ever, and with that brings an interesting conundrum. Sports cars have grown up to meet entry level supercars in terms of price and capability, with cars like the Mercedes-AMG GT now packing over 800bhp and Aston Martin’s Vantage being a £165k powerhouse with a 0-62mph time in the mid-threes. But performance is one thing – can the latest breed of sports cars really match a bespoke, mid-engined supercar for sheer thrills? 

In issue 335 of evo, we found out by pitching the AMG GT and Vantage against the McLaren Artura and Maserati’s MC20 on some of the best roads in the UK. You can read the full test by picking up a copy of evo 335 in-store or online via the evo shop. 

We know the new Vantage well. It made the shortlist for eCoty 2024 and impressed with its barrel-chested character and newfound precision over the old car, but here it goes up against proven driver’s cars at the top of their game – including an eCoty winner. The Maserati MC20 took the crown in 2022 and is as alluring as ever, being a pure, non-hybrid supercar in a sea of electrified ones. McLaren’s Artura, meanwhile, is much more sophisticated, packing a hybrid-assisted V6 and being the first all-new McLaren since the 12C. But the AMG GT63 S E Performance beats them all for power, packing a monstrous 805bhp from its hybrid V8 and an advanced four-wheel drive chassis. 

Which is best? We’d find out after a two-day test and spectacular drives on Cumbrian mountain roads. ‘With the tanks brimmed we swap cars for the 45-minute drive back to the hotel,’ said evo’s Richard Meaden. ‘I know it’s a great route back, with everything from long straights to tight switchbacks, and a mix of lumpy moorland tarmac and smooth, fresh asphalt. I’ve already had some cracking stints in the other cars and feel like my order is crystallising, but haven’t quite had my eureka moment in the MC20 and feel like I still have more questions than answers.

‘Coming immediately after a brilliant drive in the Artura highlights what a culture shock the MC20 is. The steering – so richly detailed and satisfyingly weighted in the McLaren – is light and lacking in connection, but the Maser is more immediately expressive. Especially the engine, which sounds gruff and feels a bit sulky until its turbos are spinning, from which point it rapidly builds in anger and intensity. If it was a dog you’d have to be brave to stroke it.’